Parquet or wood-effect gres? Differences and advice

One of the most frequent doubts for those who need to decide on the floor of their home is exactly this: is it better to use parquet or gres, i.e. stoneware? Although the alternatives may seem very similar from an aesthetic point of view, in substance they are not. The characteristics of the materials are very different and result in floors with very different features. First and foremost, durability and resistance, but also the budget are aspects to be considered in order to reach the best decision for one’s home. So, undecided between parquet and stoneware? Let’s discover the differences together!

Wood flooring: the main characteristics

Wood flooring is a timeless choice that adds warmth and beauty to any room. The aesthetic appearance of a parquet floor is a reminder of nature, of a living, valuable material that can create an ambiance of old-world elegance in your home. The various wood species are characterised by a wide range of nuances and grains that make parquet a unique work of art that can never be reproduced in the same way. Each floorboard is different from the next and each floor is the result of combining all the small details of the wood. So, this is where the versatility of parquet comes into play: the style changes and adapts perfectly to that of your dream home, depending on the finish you choose. For example, in a rustic context, wooden floors with a rougher finish and obvious knots are often preferred. For example, in a rustic context, wooden floors with a rougher finish and obvious knots are usually preferred. These give a more informal and characteristic look, creating a cosy and traditional atmosphere. Warmer wood tones, such as oak or chestnut, are often favoured to accentuate the rustic character. On the other hand, for a classic style, one usually opts for a more refined and polished parquet floor, characterised by a more uniform surface with no obvious knots. Shades tend to be more neutral, such as walnut or cherry, to lend a timeless elegance. Straight edges and clean lines are often preferred, as they give an extra touch of sophistication. 

Durability is also an essential feature to consider when choosing between a wood or stoneware floor. The durability of parquet is high and makes this type of floor a real long-term investment that increases the value of the entire home. With the right care, a parquet floor can withstand wear and tear, and proper maintenance, including regular cleaning and reducing exposure to moisture, is key to prolonging the life of the wood, ensuring an aesthetically attractive and durable floor. And let’s not forget that in addition to its durability, wood flooring offers tactile and thermal comfort, being pleasant to the touch and contributing to maintaining a constant room temperature.

Stoneware flooring: the main characteristics

This brings us to the analysis of stoneware.
Wood-effect stoneware flooring combines the warm and cosy aesthetics of wood with the durability and practicality of stoneware. This synthetic material is composed of clays, sand, and minerals, which undergo a process of atomisation and firing at high temperature. The result is a non-porous material, characterised by hardness and impermeability that make it perfectly suitable for use in flooring because it is resistant to abrasion, impact and moisture.
In particular, porcelain stoneware is the material with the lowest level of water absorption: this characteristic makes it perfect for outdoor flooring, as well as for bathrooms and terraces, and it is characterised by a high resistance to abrasion, i.e. it is a strong and practical floor, capable of resisting impact and contact with other materials and surfaces.
Visually, stoneware stands out for its remarkable versatility in imitating the aesthetic characteristics of different materials, including wood. Through the use of advanced technologies, it is in fact possible to confer any desired pattern and shade to stoneware, achieving an aesthetic appearance comparable to that of the original materials. So much so that one of the most difficult choices to make when opting for a wood-effect porcelain stoneware floor is that of colour: you will have all the shades available, just like for parquet, from the lightest colours to the darkest ones, right through to greys. The wood effect is achieved through advanced technologies that faithfully replicate the grain, knots, and nuances of natural wood. This allows one to enjoy the aesthetics of wood without worrying about the vulnerability of real wood to scratches, stains, or deformation. As it is not a living material, its maintenance is minimal: you can easily maintain its beauty over time.

Stoneware or wood? The two solutions in comparison.

Now that we have understood what the characteristics of wood and stoneware are, let’s compare floors made of these two materials and then get to the heart of the matter: which option is more convenient? Bearing in mind that personal tastes are subjective, we try to explore the pros and cons of the two solutions to reach the right choice for your home.

Without forgetting that it is a material resulting from an industrialised process, replicable and not as unique in its history as wood.
Now, we move on to the evaluation of parquet: choosing wood means choosing a living, natural, authentic material that, due to its intrinsic characteristics, is able to guarantee excellent acoustic and thermal insulation. We can then state that from an aesthetic point of view, parquet is second to none: grains, knots, nuances are unique in every single board and make your floor a work of art on which you can walk freely. No two parquet floors are alike; each one has its own unique characteristics. And if from a maintenance point of view parquet requires a little extra effort, don’t forget that you always have the option of restoring the original finish by sanding. This way you will maintain that timeless, evergreen feel in your home. Lastly, let’s not forget to consider another key aspect, perhaps the most unpleasant: cost, with stoneware being the winner over parquet, as it is more accessible, especially when compared to more complexly processed parquet. 

The advantages of a wood-effect stoneware floor are the high degree of durability and stability, as well as its excellent resistance to wear, abrasion, trampling and humidity: in short, it is a super practical and functional floor! To this must be added a note on cleaning, which is quick and easy, and on maintenance, which is routine and simple. And even from an aesthetic point of view, stoneware has its pros: it has an outstanding performance, even when imitating noble materials such as wood! However, unlike wood, it is characterised by poor acoustic and thermal insulation.

In conclusion, when it comes to choosing between a wood or stoneware floor, no one choice is better than the other, only one that best meets your needs in terms of taste, style, and functionality. Analyse the characteristics of the materials, the style of your home and the budget available to you: then making the right decision will be a piece of cake!